SMC vs. Hope

Peterson Breaks More Records as Belles Split with Hope

HOLLAND, Mich. - Ashley Peterson continued to rewrite the record books as the Saint Mary's softball team split a league doubleheader with Hope, winning the opener 8-4 and falling 5-4 in game two.

In the opener, the Flying Dutch struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.

The bats then came alive for the Belles in the second, third, and fourth innings as Saint Mary's erupted for eight runs over the three inning span. Angela Gillis, Hayley Bojorquez, and Sara Montelongo each notched singles in the second as Montelongo drove in Gillis with the Belles' first run of the game.

In the third inning, Lauren Enayati led off with a single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Maureen Healy. Ashley Peterson then delivered her eighth home run of the season to put Saint Mary's up 3-2. The home run tied teammate Hayley Bojorquez for the Saint Mary's single season record. Bojorquez later scored on an error by the Flying Dutch after connecting with a two-out single.

In the fourth inning, Saint Mary's started a four-run outburst with singles by Kate Mitchell and Kristen Nelson. Two batters later, Healy and Peterson came up with back-to-back singles to plate a pair. Bojorquez later delivered her second straight clutch two-out hit as she doubled to keep the rally alive, allowing Healy and Peterson to score while putting Saint Mary's up 8-2.

The Flying Dutch scored a pair in the bottom of the fifth, but Monica Palicki and the Belles' defense set the Hope batters down in order in the sixth and seventh for the 8-4 win. Palicki scattered seven hits over seven innings and walked one in the win.

Hayley Bojorquez was 3-for-4 in the opener with a double, a run scored, and a pair of RBIs. Ashley Peterson, Lauren Enayati, and Kristen Nelson each collected two hits in the win. Peterson drove in three and scored twice with a home run while Enayati and Nelson each scored a run.

In the nightcap, it would be the Belles who would light up the scoreboard first. In the bottom of the first inning, Ashley Peterson broke yet another Saint Mary's record as she connected with her 56th hit of the season. Much like her record-breaking performance against Albion where she set a new school record for career hits with a home run, Peterson's 56th hit of the season was also a home run as she also currently holds the Saint Mary's record for home runs in a season (9). The previous record for hits in a season of 55 was set by Peterson in 2008. The home run also supplied the senior with her 46th RBI of the season, which is currently one better than teammate Hayley Bojorquez for a school record. Moreover, the home run also tied the MIAA record for most home runs in a season in conference play (seven) and most RBI in a season in conference play (24).

The Flying Dutch tallied two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead, but the Belles quickly erased the deficit by scoring two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs away, Maureen Healy came through with a single and advanced into scoring position on a Flying Dutch error. Peterson then drew her first of three consecutive walks to put a pair on base. Angela Gillis then connected with a double that scored the pair to put Saint Mary's up 3-2.

Hope then scored a run in the top of the fourth and two in the top of the fifth to take back the lead.

Saint Mary's got a run back in the bottom half of the fifth to get within a run of the Flying Dutch. Healy hit her second straight single and Peterson walked with one away in the inning. After Peterson was out on a fielder's choice by Gillis to put runners at the corners, Bojorquez came up with another clutch two-out double to score Healy from third.

The Belles battled to try to score the equalizer in the bottom of the seventh. Peterson walked with one out gone in the seventh and Gillis singled to put two on for Saint Mary's. The Belles' rally, however, would fall short as the two would not advance any farther and Saint Mary's would suffer the 5-4 loss.

Gillis shouldered the loss in game two after going the distance in the circle and walking one while striking out a pair.

Healy, Gillis, and Bojorquez each tallied two hits in the loss for the Belles. Healy scored twice while Gillis drove in a pair.

The Belles (19-15, 8-4 MIAA) will have a week off until their next game when they host Calvin on April 28 for a conference doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.